Surgical instrument tray

ABSTRACT

A surgical instrument tray for the secure storage of pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments on a surgical cart having a hinged, transparent lid for easy access and visibility.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This present invention relates to a surgical instrument tray for usewith a surgical cart used to store surgical instruments andpharmaceuticals and, more particularly to such a surgical instrumenttray that fits on the top of the surgical cart having a transparent,hinged, secure lid.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Rolling cabinets used in connection with patient care, more commonlyreferred to as surgical carts, are used in literally every hospitalsetting including in-room care as well as the operating or emergencyroom. Typically, these surgical carts, such as those disclosed in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,205,629 and 4,790,610, as well as pending application US2004/0135477 A1, include a system of drawers in a relatively smallcabinet with rolling casters to facilitate mobility. The drawers, whichcan be locking as described in US 2004/0135477 A1, are generally used tostore pharmaceuticals and surgical instruments, although a morespecialized use such as for blood specimen procurement, U.S. Pat. No.3,966,286; storage of ophthalmic micro surgical instruments, U.S. Pat.No. 6,022,088, or medication dispensing, U.S. Pat. No. 4,114,965, can bethe desired objective. Typically, the top surface of the surgical cartbecomes, for the surgeon, attending physician or nurse, just anotherstorage area for used or to be used, surgical instruments orpharmaceuticals. While such a storage area is convenient and allowsitems to be visible as well as easily assessable; it is not secure.Furthermore, items placed on the top surface of the surgical cart canbecome displaced during movement of the cart and can even fall onto theground. Of course, once the pharmaceuticals or surgical instruments areplaced back into the drawers of the surgical cart, they can be secured,however one in such drawers, they are no longer visible or easilyassessable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a secureand convenient tray to be placed on the top surface of the surgical cartfor storage of surgical instruments and pharmaceuticals, the lid ofwhich, at least, is transparent to allow visibility of those itemsplaced in such tray. Other objects and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionwhen viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which setforth certain embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a top view of the surgical instrument tray of thepresent invention.

FIG. 1 a illustrate a top view of the surgical instrument tray of thepresent invention depicting the lip in an open position

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of the surgical instrument tray of thepresent invention depicting a sectioned top surface (lid).

FIG. 2 a illustrates a top view of the surgical instrument tray of thepresent invention depicting the section lid in a open position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein.It should be understood, however, that the disclosed embodiments aremerely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in variousforms. Therefore, the details disclosed herein are not to be interpretedas limiting, but merely as the basis for the claims and as a basis forteaching one skilled in the art how to make and/or use the invention.

As shown both in FIG. 1, the surgical tray of the present inventionconsists of a box having two side surfaces [2, and 3], a back surface[4] and a top surface (lid) [1]. The lid [1] is attached along the edgeof back surface using any conventional means such as a hinge [7] whichwill allow the lid [1] to open [See FIG. 1 a]. Although any material ofsufficient rigidity can be used to form the back [4], side [2 and 3] andlid [1] surfaces of the present invention, it has been found that thesurgical instrument tray works best when the material of construction isone quarter inch acrylic and that the acrylic for the top surface (lid)[1] is clear.

Again, as shown in FIG. 1, the surgical instrument tray of the presentinvention is secured to the surgical cart using at least one butpreferably 2 latches [5 and 6]. Any conventional type latch will work,however a simple latch formed from material such as one-eighth inchpolycarbonate has been found to be effective. The latches [5 and 6] areattached to the edge of the top surface (lid) [1] using any conventionalmethod such as glue. The latches can even be formed as an integral partof the lid [1]. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention,the latches [5 and 6] have a lip [15 and 16] to secure attachment to thesurgical cart. The latches [5 and 6] can be made of separate piecesattached together to form the latch shape using any conventional meansor can be formed as a single piece through processes such as injectionmolding.

As shown in FIG. 2, the top surface (lid) [1] can be formed in sections,at least two and preferably three sections. One section is permanentlyattached to the top edge of the back surface [12] using any conventionalmeans such as glue. The other sections are attached together using anytypical means of attachment which will allow the lid [1] to open such ashinges [9 and 10]. FIG. 2 a shows the sectioned lid [1] in an openposition with the first section [13] folded over the second section[14]. Folding the sections over each other reduces the amount of spacethat is needed around the surgical instrument tray to fully open the lid[1].

Without limiting the foregoing and while not necessary for embodiment,the surgical instrument tray of the present invention can be made with alocking device such that the lid [1] cannot be opened. Further, flaps[11], as shown in FIG. 2 a, can be added to the surgical instrument trayof the present invention to form a tighter seal around the perimeter ofthe lid [1].

1. A surgical instrument tray comprising a tray having two sidesurfaces, a back surface and a top surface (lid) of suitable width,length and depth for easy, secure placement on the top of a surgicalcart.
 2. The surgical instrument tray of claim 1 wherein the top surfaceis transparent.
 3. The surgical instrument tray of claim 1 furthercomprising a means for movably attaching the top surface to the top edgeof the back surface.
 4. The surgical instrument tray of claim 1 furthercomprising at least one latch for securing the tray to a surgical cart.5. The surgical instrument tray of claim 1 further comprising internalstorage trays suitable for storing pharmaceuticals and surgicalinstruments.
 6. A surgical instrument tray comprising a tray having twoside surfaces, a back surface and a sectioned, top surface (lid), thewidth, length and depth of which are suitable for easy, secure placementon the top of a surgical cart.
 7. The surgical instrument tray of claim6 further wherein the sectioned top surface further comprises two endsections and at least one intermediate section between the two endsections, wherein one end section is permanently attached to one sidesurface and the intermediate sections are movably attached to the endsections and each other.
 7. The surgical instrument tray of claim 7further comprising at least one latch to secure the tray to the surgicalcart.
 8. The surgical instrument tray of claim 7 further comprisinginternal storage trays suitable for storing pharmaceuticals and surgicalinstruments.
 9. The surgical instrument tray of claim 7 wherein the topsurface (lid) is transparent.